Essendon defeated Carlton for the second time in 2008 when the Bombers jumped Carlton early and held on against a Carlton onslaught to record a meritorious 35-point victory. Starting with a confidence and momentum not evident in so many games this year, the Bombers raced out of the blocks to get out to a 39-pont lead at the first change. But slowly the Blues pegged the Bombers back, reducing the margin through the second term and starting the final term with all guns blazing to briefly hit the lead. But Matthew Lloyd goaled quickly to restore the lead to the Bombers, and in a high-scoring last quarter the Bombers then regained their poise to kick the last 5 goals of the game and blow the margin back out to a more comfortable level.Essendon 7.5 8.9 12.13 20.16 (136)Carlton 1.2 5.4 9.6 15.11 (101)Goals : Essendon - A Monfries 4, M Lloyd 4, A Lovett 3, J Neagle 2, K Reimers 2, M McVeigh, L Jetta, A McPhee, J Laycock, S Lucas. Carlton - B Fevola 7, N Stevens 2, A Carrazzo 2, E Betts, M Murphy, K Simpson, B Fisher.Best : Essendon - D Hille, A Monfries, M Lloyd, A Welsh, J Watson, B Stanton. K Reimers. Carlton - B Fevola, N Stevens, M Murphy, B Gibbs, K Simpson, J Waite.Injuries : Essendon - H Slattery (fractured cheekbone). Carlton - C Judd (concussion), A Carrazzo (concussion).Reports - Nil. Umpires - McLaren, Chamberlain, ArmstrongCrowd - 59,177 at MCG.

Leading by 10 points at the main break, and with two quick goals to Rocca and Medhurst within minutes of the restart, Collingwood were 23 points clear and looking good against the Bulldogs in the twilight match. But the Bulldogs were spurred into action, and 7 goals in the third term enabled them to hit the front just before three-quarter time and to hang on for a 10-point win to keep their top 4 credentials intact. Lindsay Gilbee and Daniel Cross were best for the Bulldogs, while the Magpies were well served by Ben Johnson and Heath Shaw.Western Bulldogs 2.2 5.4 12.5 15.9 (99)Collingwood 1.3 6.8 11.9 13.11 (89)Goals : Bulldogs - Hahn 3, Murphy 3, Welsh 2, Johnson 2, Griffen, Eagleton, Akermanis, Gilbee, Minson. Collingwood - Medhurst 2, Swan 2, Burns 2, Wood 2, R. Shaw, Bryan, Rocca, Pendlebury, Lockyer.Best : Bulldogs - Gilbee, Cross, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Murphy, Morris, Johnson. Collingwood - Johnson, H. Shaw, Pendlebury, R. Shaw, Burns, Maxwell, Clarke.Injures : Bulldogs - Williams (shoulder). Collingwood - Reid (foot), Rocca (ankle).Reports - Nil. Umpires - Vozzo, Stevic, WennCrowd - 44,885 at Telstra Dome

St Kilda kept in contact with the top 8, but won ugly in an unconvincing display in front of a smallish crowd at Telstra Dome. The Saints made the early front-running, and led by 27 points during the second quarter; but a run of five goals to the Dockers over the remainder of the second term and into the third gave Fremantle an unlikely lead. But, led by veteran Robert Harvey's glut of possession and with Nick Riewoldt up forward in good form, the Saints were to restore the lead. Despite some heroics from Matthew Pavlich, who kicked 5 goals, the Dockers were unable to find a winner and the Saints hung on for an uninspiriring 8-point win.St Kilda 4.3 6.3 9.5 10.5 (65)Fremantle 2.0 5.2 7.6 8.9 (57)Goals : St Kilda - Riewoldt 3, Goddard 2, Gram 2, Montagna, Hayes, Gilbert. Fremantle - Pavlich 5, Murphy, J. Carr, CrowleyBest : St Kilda - Ball, Riewoldt, Harvey, King, Armitage, Gwilt, Goddard, Gram. Fremantle - Pavlich, Solomon, Mundy, Palmer, Mayne, SandilandsInjuries : St Kilda - Hayes (hamstring). Fremantle - McPharlin (ribs), Michael Johnson (ankle)Reports - Nil. Umpires - McBurney, Farmer, JefferyCrowd - 22,440 at Telstra Dome.

Hawthorn's bid for top spot on the ladder hit a snag when the Hawks were toppled by 27 points by a more determined North Melbourne side at the MCG. There was only a point in it at quarter time, but from there on the Kangaroos took the initiative and extended their lead in every quarter. A late rally in the third term cut the margin to just 16 points at the last change, but three last-quarter goals to Lindsay Thomas denied Hawthorn any chance of a comeback victory.Kangaroos 2.4 7.8 10.10 15.13 (103)Hawthorn 2.3 5.8 7.12 10.16 (76)Goals : Kangaroos - Thomas 4, Grant 3, Campbell 2, Jones 2, Harris, Harvey, Thompson, Wells. Hawthorn -Hodge 3, Roughead 2, Williams 2, Franklin, Mitchell, Boyle.Best : Kangaroos - Harris, Thomas, Harvey, Grant, Thompson, Gibson, Watt, Wells .Hawthorn - Mitchell, Guerra, Hodge, Lewis, Birchall, Ladson.Injuries : Hawthorn - Tim Clarke (corked quad) replaced in the selected side by Travis Tuck.Reports - Nil. Umpires - Nicholls, Ellis, McInerneyCrowd - 42,508 at MCG.

Brisbane consolidated their position in the top 8 while Adelaide run the risk of losing contact with the top 4 after the Lions recorded a 13-point win in a fluctuating contest under lights at the Gabba. The lead see-sawed during the night, and although the Crows held a 2-point lead at the last change, the Lions were lifted by the vocal crowd and found the conditions to their liking to hit the front early in the last term and work their way to victory. With 40 possessions for the game, Luke Power was superb in a best-on-ground display.Brisbane 3.3 4.7 7.14 11.17 (83)Adelaide 2.5 6.7 8.10 10.10 (70)Goals : Brisbane - Clark 3, Corrie 2, Brown 2, Copeland 2, Brennan, Notting. Adelaide - Porplyzia 2, Vince, Bock, Stevens, Burton, Maric, Gill, Jericho, DouglasBest : Brisbane - Power, Brennan, McGrath, Charman, Clark. Adelaide - Shirley, Edwards, Doughty, Rutten, Knights, VinceInjuries : Adelaide - Maric (knee)Reports - Nil. Umpires - James, Meredith, RyanCrowd - 29,964 at the Gabba.

The Geelong juggernaut was in full swing at Subiaco, while West Coast's fall from grace was complete when the Cats humiliated the Eagles by 135 points. It was West Coast's heaviest defeat at Subiaco in the club's history; and 2008 will be the first time ever that the Eagles will have lost 2 games by 100 points in a season. The Cats were magnificent, with Mooney and Chapman each contributing 5 goals, while Gary Ablett and Paul Chapman totally dominated the midfield. With the percentage boost from such a big win, and with Hawthorn losing to North Melbourne, the Cats have built up a handy buffer on top of the ladder.Geelong 7.3 13.6 23.10 28.14 (182)West Coast 1.5 2.9 3.14 5.17 (47)Goals : Geelong - Mooney 5, Chapman 5, Kelly 4, Ablett 2, Johnson 2, Lonergan 2, Rooke 2, Varcoe 2, Bartel, Mackie, Prismall, Taylor. West Coast - LeCras 3, Cox, Hunter.Best : Geelong - Ablett, Chapman, Mooney, Kelly, Enright, Mackie, Selwood. West Coast - Kerr, Cox, LeCras, Schofield.Injuries : Geelong - Stokes (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Wojcinski. West Coast - A Selwood (throat).Reports - Nil. Umpires - Donlon, Rosebury, KamolinsCrowd - 38,414 at Subiaco Oval.

A 7-goal opening quarter got Sydney off to a flying start when they took on bottom side Melbourne in Canberra and set up a platform that could have led to a big win. But the Swans took their foot off the pedal, and a desperate and determined Melbourne side tried hard to peg back the deficit. Late in the third term the margin had been cut to 11 points, a bit too close for comfort for the Swans. But Sydney then found their second win, regaining the initiative they held early and cruising home to a comfotable 40-point win. Barry Hall was best for the Swans, dominating the forward line with a 5-goal haul.Click here for Harboursport's photo gallery from this match.Sydney 7.2 10.5 12.10 17.12 (114)Melbourne 2.2 5.3 10.5 11.8 (74)Goals : Sydney Swans - Hall 5, Buchanan 2, Mattner 2, O'Loughlin 2, Goodes, Jolly, Malceski, O'Keefe, Playfair, Roberts-Thompson. Melbourne - Bate 4, Wonaeamirri 3, Bruce, P.Johnson, McLean, MillerBest : Sydney - Hall, Kirk, Mattner, Jolly, C.Bolton, O'Loughlin. Melbourne - Bate, Dunn, Green, P.Johnson, Garland, C.JohnsonInjuries - Nil.Reports - Nil. Umpires - Sully, Grun, HeadCrowd - 11,437 at Manuka Oval.